LEPAS 17-19 July:
TARI ’09 Scaled-Down and Rescheduled Due to Rising Concerns of Virus Threat
 

TARI ’09, the much-anticipated international dance gathering and performance offerings originally scheduled for 14 to 18 July 2009 has been postponed and will be replaced with a scaled-down show on 17 to 19 July 2009.  TARI is a contemporary dance performance held every two years and is organized by the Dance Department of the National Arts, Culture and Heritage Academy (ASWARA).  TARI ’09 was expected to bring in nearly 160 international participants.

Joseph Gonzales, Dean of the Dance Department expressed his disappointment following the school’s decision recently amidst pressures from authorities ‘higher up’ to curb the H1N1 disease.

“We apologized to the international participants for all the inconveniences caused due to the postponement and I am so thankful for their kind understanding towards this predicament,” said Gonzales with regret.

“The school does not want to take the risk of even one person or participant getting infected.  Although the disease can be treated if detected quickly, the quarantine will cause innumerable difficulties.  ASWARA does not want to put anyone at risk.”

“However, such are the challenges in life and we must carry on. We are still going to stage a simple show from 17 to 19 July for us here in Kuala Lumpur and the best medicine is to put our best foot forward and dance!   The show will be free to the public as we just want to celebrate the talents and the gifts that we have received” 

"The show will be called LEPAS implying post-TARI and also for us to let go - of everything that we have felt leading up to this festival or rather non-festival, now." 

Among those that will perform: